KUNDASANG: Kenyans ruled the 28th International Mount Kinabalu Climbathon – Adventure Race, particularly the women’s open category, by sweeping the top three places.
Fresh from finishing second in a 21km half marathon in Indonesia yesterday, Carolyne Jepkosgei Mitei, 30, went on to defend her title by finishing the 23km race in 3’07:49 seconds, about six minutes better than last year’s time of (3’13:12 seconds).
“The trail was very tough but it was a good race and the weather was good for me,” she said when met by reporters after crossing the finish line here yesterday.
Her compatriot Viola Jepchirchir Kimeli, who was first runner-up last year, also retained her second place win clocking 3’18:06 seconds, improving her time last year by about eight minutes (3’26:02 seconds).
Third place went to their country-woman Caroline Jeruto Kegan who finished the race in 3’21:08 seconds.
Kenya also won the men’s open category through Collins Kipkorir Kimosop, 20, who described the race as “clean”, but challenging during the 1,138.5-metre climb up to the Layang-Layang Hut on the 4,095.2-metre high Mount Kinabalu.
He finished the race in 2’23:33 seconds, ahead of Singapore’s Nimesh Gurung (2’25:44s) and Malaysia’s Walter Herman (2’38:30s), respectively.
The winners bagged RM5,000 in cash, while the runner-up and third place winners took home RM3,000 and RM2,000 respectively.
Meanwhile, the men’s veteran category was won by France’s Stephan Roger Jean Michel Bacou who clocked 2’45:08s while the women’s veteran category was won by Malaysia’s Muidah Bolinting who set a time of 3’44:40s.
The race started from Kinabalu Park to Layang-Layang Hut, passing Mesilau Nature Resort and ending at Kundasang town.
The summit route, which covers 33km, was revived last year due to popular demand by elite runners. — Bernama